The popular and trending hashtag #forsale throws up more than 1 million results, most of which are completely innocent such as clothes, shoes and other second hand goods, but riddled among the listings are thousands of live animals being offered for sale.

From household pets and exotic animals like snakes and turtles that require specialist care to sheep and goats intended to be sacrificially slaughtered for birthdays and events, Instagram is turning a blind eye to this atrocity when they clearly have full knowledge of its development.

What is supposed to be in Instagram’s own words “a beautiful and fun way to share your life with friends and family” has rapidly become a breeding ground for those looking to make a quick buck, with many users turning their personal accounts into streams of classified ads for animals.

Scarily, Instagram does not currently have any rules or guidelines on the advertisement of items for sale, and nowhere in the site’s terms and conditions do they mention the sale of animals. Conversly, other leading online marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay strictly prohibit the sale of live animals, and animal rights campaigners are imploring Instagram to follow suit and crack down on listings.

Leading the charge is the UK’s largest animal rights group Animal Aid, who are urging Instagram, which is owned by social media giant Facebook, to put an end to this careless and harmful trading of animals.

The charity’s director Andrew Tyler said, “Animals are being manufactured and traded as products and this will encourage people to breed carelessly. The easier you make it to buy and sell animals online, the more casual and callous an approach people will take…and this will only lead to more suffering.”

Animals are not mere commodities to be bought and sold. They are living, feeling, sentient beings, and when their welfare is put second to that of profit, they will always suffer as a result.

Millions of dogs and cats are killed every year because they have no prospects for a home, and it is facilitating sites like Instagram that are the worst offenders. By providing an easy way for irresponsible breeders and pet owners to offload their unwanted animals, the mentality of viewing animals as money making machines takes a hold and exploitative practices start to manifest.

As expected, Instagram has declined to comment on this controversy, but that doesn’t mean that their silence will go unnoticed. As an industry leader, Instagram has an obligation to lead by example and they need to recognize this thoughtless and careless trading and put a stop to it before any more harm is done.

WHOM TO CONTACT

Let Instagram know exactly what you think.

You can get in contact with them via Twitter, Facebook or you can shoot them an email at press@instagram.com

It only takes a few minutes to write an email and hit the send button so don’t wait, do it now and you can ensure that you are fighting towards creating a kinder and safer world for animals everywhere.

Like Amazon and Ebay, please change your business practices so that no animals are bought or sold on Instagram. Please keep Instagram an honest forum for everyone by rejecting the rampant cruelty that is inherent in live animal purchasing and selling for pets, slaughter, and ritual sacrifice. Unfortunately, until this practice ceases, I will be forwarding my business elsewhere.

Want to do more than go vegan? Help others to do so! Click on the below for nominal, or no, fees to vegan literature that you can use to convince others that veganism is the only compassionate route to being an animal friend.

It’s very sad that every innocent animal that it passed on (supposedly going to new kind and loving homes), isn’t checked out first to make sure that the new homes are safe and genuine. Too many dogs have been passed on as family pets, only to be found later, badly injured after being used as bait dogs for the evil Dog Fighting fraternity. ALL dogs and cats who are rehomed, need volunteers to check them out a few weeks later, by going round in groups of at least two, to the addresses of the new owners, to report that all is well….and if not, to get the animals back ito safety..

There should be standards in place to prohibit this type of activity. I agree that many times the animal is “placed” into some sadist’s home to be used in vile and cruel manners. Let’s hope Instagram will at least ban these types of sales. Thanks, Susan.